Citation

Bryan MA, Charron E, Adeoye-Olatunde O, Brown J, Ghitza U, Winhusen TJ, Cochran G. Pharmacy (Basel) 2021; 9(3): e134.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

DOI

10.3390/pharmacy9030134

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cannabis use is common among individuals with pain who are prescribed opioids, occurring in approximately 10% of this population. This study aims to explore the relationship between non-medical cannabis use and other health risks among individuals filling opioids at community pharmacies.

METHODS: This study was an exploratory secondary data analysis of a National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN)-sponsored study, Validation of a Community Pharmacy-Based Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Risk Screening, examining the relationship between risky cannabis use and depressive symptoms, pain, overdose, and other substance misuse among individuals filling opioid prescriptions in community pharmacies (N = 1440).

RESULTS: Participants reporting moderate- to high-risk compared to low-risk cannabis use were more likely to report depressive symptoms (adjusted OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.11-2.56), history of overdose (adjusted OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.34-3.44), and moderate- to high-risk use of alcohol (adjusted OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.28-3.45), opioids (adjusted OR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.67-3.76), sedatives (adjusted OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.72-3.86), stimulants (adjusted OR = 4.79, 95% CI = 2.83-8.01), and tobacco (adjusted OR = 3.60, 95% CI = 2.47-5.24).

CONCLUSIONS: Community pharmacies may be valuable sites for identifying, studying, and intervening with substance use problems.

Language: en

Keywords

opioids; cannabis; substance use; community pharmacy